Announcing the OBSSR Strategic Plan 2025–2029
I’m proud to introduce the OBSSR Strategic Plan 2025–2029—OBSSR’s fourth strategic plan and my first as OBSSR Director. This update reflects a systematic 3-year planning process of assessing accomplishments, evaluating future directions, and collecting input from the research community, NIH staff, and federal and community partners.
Operational Priorities
Operational Priority 1: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Values
OBSSR is committed to enhancing DEIA consistent with the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, both within the behavioral and social sciences and across health research at NIH, and to demonstrating this commitment with transparency and accountability.
Scientific Capacity Priorities
Capacity Priority 1: BSSR Workforce Development
OBSSR recognizes the importance of developing the scientific talent and skills necessary to advance health-related BSSR. Training and capacity building are foundational to an effective BSSR workforce poised to address the complex research challenges of today and the future.
Research Priorities
Research Priority 1: Collaborative Science
Improving health requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach that integrates BSSR within the health research enterprise, creating an environment for synergistic scientific inquiry. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, critical BSSR questions emerged that can be generalized across health domains.
Goal 1: Integrate and Coordinate Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Across the National Institutes of Health
Crosscutting Theme: Health Equity
The OBSSR Strategic Plan is grounded in the principle of health equity. Health equity is achieved when everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. BSSR can contribute to health equity by identifying and addressing the social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to health disparities and impede health and well-being for all people.
Implementation of the Strategic Plan
OBSSR will execute its strategic plan by bringing together key partners to identify gaps and opportunities in BSSR within the broader NIH research enterprise, particularly those not adequately addressed by individual NIH institutes and centers (ICs). We will continuously assess the plan’s implementation using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including portfolio analyses, systematic evaluation, and engagement in research policy. We will methodically measure and monitor the impact and progress of our initiatives against our strategic priorities.
